Armed forces veterans' letter triggers claims, counter-claims

The claim by a group of armed forces veterans that they have written to President Ram Nath Kovind urging him to act against political parties misusing the military during election campaigns has kicked up controversy. Soon after the letter was made public on Friday, former Army chief General S.F. Rodrigues and Air Chief Marshal N.C. Suri, who were named as signatories in the letter, came out denying that they had endorsed the letter to the President. This was followed by the president's office denying that it received any such letter. 

Now, a Twitter handle purportedly belonging to retired Major Priydarshi Chowdhury, who had released the letter, has published proofs against the claims of Gen Rodrigues and Suri. The letters, published by Major Chowdhury, clearly show that both Gen Rodrigues and Suri had endorsed the appeal made by 156 veterans in a letter to the President.

Major Chowdhury also published the letter, which was emailed to President Kovind, questioning the Rashtrapati Bhavan's claim that it had not received such a mail.

In addition, another veteran Captain Christopher (@bcchristopher) has also extended support to the letter, taking the total number of signatories to 157.

The letter, dated April 11, emphasised the “apolitical and secular nature of India's Armed Forces has been an article of faith for every soldier, sailor and airman”. The veterans claimed they had a “finger on the pulse” of serving military personnel, who are not allowed to air their views on political issues. The letter refered to “concerns which have caused considerable alarm and disquiet among both serving and retired personnel”.

The armed forces veterans decided to appeal to President Kovind following the utterances by Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and other BJP leaders, who claimed Modi ki sena (army of Modi) had attacked targets in Pakistan.